Networking A-B-C’s For those who think in Critical Paths Project Management Institute Networking A-B-C’s For those who think in Critical Paths Julia Holian Sales, Recruiting & Operations Management juliaholian@yahoo.com / 925-451-3183

WHAT IS NETWORKING? Networking is a way to create, build and maintain personal and professional relationships with those who have complementary skills, careers and interests Networking, if nurtured correctly, is a means to identifying people whom you may benefit and others who may be of benefit to you Networking is a forum to ask for help, when needed Networking is a way to help others

WHAT ISN’T NETWORKING? It is NOT a PERT Chart It is NOT a flow chart It is NOT a one-way street, it’s an intersection If you ask people to help you, be prepared to give help

WHY BUILD A NETWORK? People of similar interests Reconnecting Personal People of similar interests Reconnecting Alma Mater Former Colleagues Win friends and influence people Satisfaction Giving Receiving Professional Your next job How Visible Are You? Your next employee Hire someone who’s known or recommended Your next client Your next boss References For you and the people you hire

Where to start building a network Websites LinkedIn (Post your skills and interests; build your reputation) Facebook Where you spend your time or have the most interests PMI Meetings Work Neighbors Church Sports College Alumni Associations (may be online or at functions)

Where to start building a network At work How well do you know your team? What’s their background and interests Who’s in their network? How well do you know other departments? How well do you know your client’s or vendor’s team? At play Who do you go bowling with? How well do you know the parents of your kid’s friends? What do they do? How well do THEY know what YOU do?

What do you know about who you know? Gather some information beyond name, company and job Try to remember it Develop a system for storing it Outlook Act! Excel Rolodex What ever works for you!

Julia’s System for Network Management & Contact Data Retention Business cards + Outlook + Cell Phone + Rolodex = “I know who to call”

Business Card On the back, write at least three basics: Where/when you met the person Date & Place Description of person or something to jog your memory Hair color/style, clothes, something they said or did 3 facts not on the card Don’t put that card away in your rolodex (or a drawer) – just yet!

Outlook Outlook (at first) Transfer data from business card Write notes Categories Work, personal, christmas card – or create a new one Sort contacts by categories to send targeted emails Details tab (birth date, boss’ name, spouse’s name, profession) Outlook (iterative) Last contact date Interests / hobbies Anybody you connect them with

Cell Phone Back up your data to your cell/smart phone Convenience to make on-the-fly edits to contact information Touch base with your network during down time In between appointments or meetings Be ready and able to help somebody because your contact’s information is right there

Rolodex NOW you can put that card away in your rolodex Third back-up system Unhackable, untraceable Good visual tool to refresh your memory

You have a network, now what? Stay in touch, as appropriate Birthday emails / cards Anniversary emails / cards Holiday emails / cards Acknowledge changes, successes, etc. Call occasionally to touch base

Give as well as receive Connect people within your network to each other Match needs with needs Match needs with skills Match personalities Match Interests Add value to your network Invite to a function Share an article or a white paper Champion website tools (portals, chatrooms)

What NOT to do DON’T SELL SELL SELL Don’t be creepy Yourself, your product, whatever Don’t be creepy DO respect boundaries Don’t ignore requests from your network If you can’t help, say so, but don’t ignore Don’t treat every contact the same

Final Thoughts Networking is a necessity no matter what you do or who you are. Skills are good. Friends are better. Use a system that works for you, not what works for somebody else High-Tech should equal High-Touch Give as well as receive (have I said that enough?)